Flexible pipe-joint.



No. 872,121. I I .PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

V W. A. GREEN'LAW.

FLEXIBLE PIPE JOINT.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 27. 1907.

' Inventor:

Warrcm/Q. Greenlaw,

24W ew I b WWW,

77amaW. July.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WARREN A. GREENLAW, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE-GREENLAWMANUFACTURING 00., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FLEXIBLE PIPE-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

Application filed July 27. 1907. Serial N 385,832,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN A. GREEN- LAw, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Melrose, in the county of .Middlesex andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Flexible Pipe-Joints, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to flexible pipe joints and has for its objectsthe production of a joint in which the pipe members may be moved to anydesired angle and at the same time maintain a tight joint between thetwo pipe members to prevent leakage while provision is also made toreduce the friction be- -tween the two, owing to pressure thereon, to aminimum.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction andarran ement of parts which will be fully understoo by reference tothedescription of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

'Of the drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan of a joint embodying thefeatures of this invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of thesame, the cutting plane being on line 2,2, onFig. 1, and Fig. 3represents a horizontal section on line 3, 3, on Fig. 2.

In the drawings, 10 is a pipe member provided at one end with anenlarged axial chamber 11, the cylindrical walls 12 of which terminatein a semi-spherical seat 13. Surrounding the chamber 11 and outside theWalls 12 is an annular chamber 14 formed by the apron 15 depending fromthe pipe member 10. Threaded to the apron 15 is a cap 16 having a semi-sherical seat 17 concentric to the seat 13. i 'ithin the chamber 11 isfitted theball shaped end 18 of the pi e member 19 which has mountedthereon t e semis herical member 20 adapted to fit between tl ie seats13 and 17, thus forming a double seal to prevent the leaka e of steam orother substance passing throug the pipe members.

The member 20 is loosely mounted upon the pipe member 19 and hasthreaded thereto the cap 21 which retains in place the packing 22 whlchprevents leakage between the two,

i the cap 21 being also threaded to the pipe member 18 to retain themember 20 in o sition. Between the inner end of the ball end 18 ismounted an annular follower 23 which is acted upon by the spring 24 toforce the member 20 to its seat.

A packing 25 is interposed between the follower 23 and the ball end 18to prevent leakage between said ball end 18 and. the

wall 12.

By making the seating portion of the member 20 of a diameter relativelygreater than the area acted u )on by the pressure of the materialpassing tlnough the pipe members, the friction on the seating surfacesis reduced. to a minimum.

By the construction shown in the drawings and herein described, aperfectly tight joint is provided having a plurality of seals which mustbe overcome before leakage can occur.

It is believed that the many advantages of the joint and its operationis so apparent from the foregoing as to need no further descri tion.

Iihving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a flexible pipe oint, the combinaticm of a pipe member providedwith an enlarged chamber the walls of which terminate in asemi-spherical seat; another pipe member provided with a ball shaped endfitting said chamber; a semi-spherical member on the latter ipe memberfittin said seat; and means or forcing said mom or to its seat.

2. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a pipe member providedwith anenlarged chamber the walls of which terminate in a semi-sphericalscat; another pipe member provided with a ball shaped end fitting saidchamber; a semi-spherical member on the latter pipe member fitting saidseat; an annular follower for said ball shaped end; a packing betweenthe two and a spring adapted to act upon said follower to force the semispherical member to its seat.

3. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a pipe member having anenlarged axial chamber, the walls of which terminate in a semi-sphericalseat; an annular apron extending from said pipe member and forming anannular chamber surrounding said axial chamber; a cap secured to saidapron provided with a semi-spherical seat concentric to the other seat;a pipe member provided with a ball shaped end fitting said enlargedaxial chamber; means for packing the. same therein; and a semi-sphericalmember on said ball ended pipe member adapted to fit between said seats.

an enlarged axial ch terminate in a of a pipe memberhavin cham' er, thewalls of w semi-spherical seat; an annular apron extending from saidpipe member and forming an annular chamber surrounding said axialchamber; a cap secured to said apron provided with a semi-spherical seatconcentric to the other seat; a pipe member provided with a ball shapedend fitting said enlarged axial chamber; means for packing the sametherein; a semi-spherical member on said ball ended pipe member adaptedto fit be tween said seats; and means for adjusting one semi-sphericalseat relative the other.

5, Ina flexible pipe joint, the combination of a pipe member having anenlarged axial chamber, the walls of which terminate in a semi-sphericalseat; an annular apron extending from said pipe member and formin anannular chamber surrounding said axia chamber; a cap secured to saidapron provided with a semi-spherical seat concentric to the other seat;a pipe member provided with a ball shaped end fitting said enlargedaxial chamber; means for packing the same therein; a semi-sphericalmember on said ball ended pipe member adapted to fit between said seats;and means for packing the joint between said semi-spherical member andsaid pipe member.

6. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a pipe member having anenlarged central chamber; another pipe member provided with a ball endfitting said chamber; an annular semi-spherical seating surface on oneof said pipe members; a semi-spherical member on the other pipe memberconcentric with 35 said ballend and of relatively greater diameter; andmeans for retaining said member on its seat.

Signed by me at Boston, day of July, 1907.

WARREN A. GREENLAW.

Witnesses:

WALTER E. LOMBAR'D, NATHAN O. LOMBARD.

Mass, this 25th

